76 THE ORCHID FAMILY. 



petals ; spur obtuse, two-thirds of an inch long. Leaves : two only, growing from 

 near the base of the scape and below which are several membraneous scales- thev 

 are obovate, or oval, blunt-pointed at the apex and tapering at the base into sheath- 

 ing petioles; smooth; shiny. S/em : hve to twelve inches high; five angled- smooth. 



A widely distributed little plant this is over the country and also one of 

 the gayest of the genus, appearing through rich woods as an elfin-like thing 

 where tall trees and bolder plants are congregated. Here it attracts the 

 hungry bees which find in its tube an abundant supply of nectar. 



It is one of the orchids that springs from a tuberous root, and as such 

 finds favour with the country people in the preparation of a highly nourish- 

 ing food for children. Those of the family with fibrous roots are mostly 

 used as a cure for diseases of a nervous nature. But even in parts of the 

 south where the natives seem to know the most about the practical uses of 

 plants they drink these decoctions in almost unlimited quantities, by the 

 gallon, in fact, and therefore incur an ill, rather than good result. 



YELLOW FRINGED ORCHID. RATTLESNAKE'S MASTER. 



(J^/afe XXIII) 

 Habendria cilidrzs. 



Floivers : crowded in an oblong, showy spike, and subtended by lanceolate, 

 pointed bracts. Sepals: broadly ovate, the lateral ones retlexed Petals : smaller 

 than the sepals; oblong, or wedge-shaped ; mostly toothed. Lip : very deeply and 

 delicately fringed and projecting a long, slender 'spur. Lea7'es : lanceolate, acute 

 at the apex and clasping at the base; thick; smooth; the upper ones much reduced 

 in size. S/etn : one to three feet high ; leafy; smooth. 



Through wet meadows and in woods, sometimes even venturing to the 

 dry, packed soil of mountain roads this handsome orchid appears as one of 

 the treasures of late summer. Its personality is always distinctive, although 

 in colour its blossoms vary from a deep, rich orange to a pale, almost 

 indefinite tint. A wet meadow where these plants grew in abundance pre- 

 sented to my mind the effect of its being traversed by a brilliant flame ; but 

 in the mountainous districts where they often occurred in dry soil, I noticed 

 that they were mostly very pale. The yellow fringed orchid is one of the 

 plants that appeals strongly to the native mountaineers who respect it as a 

 rattlesnake's master. In its deeply fringed lip they claim a resemblance to 

 the forked tongue of the snake, while the anther sacs represent to them his 

 fangs. But although staunchly asserting the efficacy of various plants in 

 this cause the conscientious native, when asked if he would rely on one for 

 his own cure, usually answers : " Wall no, I'd take whiskey." 



